Cup or glass supporting plate



Sept. 23, 1947. w. WEIDLER CUP OR GLASS SUPPORTING PLATE Filed Mar'ch 5, 1943 Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in plates for luncheon or buffet supper service and has for its primary object to provide cup or glass confining means which may be incorporated as either an attachment to the plate or an integral part thereof.

Additionally, the invention contemplates an organization as characterized which lends itself readily to fibrous material construction or manufacture so that the invention may be expressed using ordinary paper or other fibrous material of which a conventional luncheon plate is made, it being understood, however, that the other materials such as china, metal, pottery or the like may be employed.

Additionally, the invention contemplates an integral or detachable plate and cup or glass support wherein a portion of the plate wall or plate flange, or both, serves to at least partially support the plate of the cup or glass which is carried by such support.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate and glass, or cup, holder assembly wherein the latter is carried as an integral part of the plate and wherein the plate and holder are preferably, although not necessarily, made out of a pressed fibre blank;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the invention illustrating a detachable cup or glass-anchoring means in association with a plate; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4- of Fig. 3, and illustrating a cup in position for use; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a plate and cup holder showing a further modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, and turning first to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 6 designates a plate which is preferably formed of pressed fibre, such as paper, pulp, or the like (but which may be formed of any mateterial).

Plate 6 is shown as having a laterally extending horizontal flange portion 1 which is carried by the upwardly and outwardly slanting marginal wall portion la.

As indicated in the drawing, the outwardly extending horizontal flange portion 1 carries the structurally integral support element 8 for a glass or cup H, such support element 8 as shown having the cut-out or opening In providing seat for at least the lower portion of the cup II, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the integral plate and cup or glass support arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the horizontal plate flange 1 provides two reverted portions 9 which are integral structurally with both the support 8 and plate 9 for carrying the support, it being noted that the horizontal flange 1 of the plate is arranged to support the overlying marginal portion of the cup or glass support 8 and that the upwardly and outwardly slanting wall la of the plate is arranged to engage the lower portion of the cup or glass to at least partially support the same. Thus, both the horizontal flange I .of the plate and the upwardly and outwardly slanting wall l'a thereof cooperate in supporting the glass or cup I l.

As will be readily appreciated, the organization shown in Figs. 1 and 2 lends itself very readily to a stamping operation whereby the plate 6 and cup or glass support 8 will be stamped or formed in a single operation from a blank of material; or, alternatively, formed from pulp material in a single molding operation. It is, of course, to be understood that the support 8 may be provided with a seat otherwise than by the cut-out or opening l0.

Coming now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the cup or glass support or seating means is detachable from the plate, it will be noted that the plate of Figs. 3 and 4 is designated by reference character 12, and has the upwardly and outwardly slanting wall portion I3 which terminates in the marginal horizontal flange l5.

In carrying out the invention as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the marginal horizontal flange I8 is slotted as at M, preferably substantially parallel with the outer edge and is adapted to receive the anchoring lug or tongue 16 whose outer end is preferably turned upwardly as indicated at lfia, so as to engage the outer edge of said horizontal flange l5, as best shown in Fig. 4. The tongue I6 is an extension of the support I! which takes the form of a flat annulus whose central opening l8 provides a seat, and at least partial support, for the lower end l9a of'the cup 19. Here, as

before, the upwardly and outwardly slanting wall 13 of plate l2 serves to at least partially support that the support or seat element 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) and H (Figs. 3 and 4) provides aflat flange-like portion surrounding theseats l 18, respectively, so as to intercept any drip of fluid down the outer side of the cup. Of course, when said cup seatportions 8, I! are made of fibrous material they will serve to absorb or block. anymoisture running down thereto along the sides of the cup. And in any event, regardless of the material from which said cup or glass supports 8, I! are made, the drippage mentioned will be at least partially prevented from reaching the contents of the plate.

In the form ofinvention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be apparent'that when a cup or:glass I9 is placed as shown, that the engagementyor proximity of the lower, portion 'l9a;thereof to theupwardlyand outwardly slanting wall will, in conjunction with the outwardly extending plate rim-engaging portion 16a of tongue l6,,prevent shifting of thecup orglass seat or support I. in respect to plate 12.

The Fig. modification is especially suitable when one or the other, orboth, of the plate 20 and cup or glass holder 23 are of china, or some relatively stiff material. Here plate 20 .has the upwardly and outwardly slanting wall 2| which terminates in the horizontal flangelzhaving the slot 22a. The difference between the Fig. 5 struc ture and that of 'Figs 3, 4, is that in Fig. 5 the anchoring 'lugor tongue 25'has the downwardly ofiset portion for engaging the under side ofplate flange 22 outwardlyv of slot 22a. Thus plate'flangc 22 lies in the same plane throughout its circumference. Theouter end of tongueor lug 25 has the upturnedplater-rim engaging portion 25a; and holder 23 has the cup or glass seat 23, as shown.

Obviously, the invention herein disclosed lends itself to many expressions withinthe spirit and scope of the subjectmatter, claimed hereinafter. 1], therefore reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as fairly'fall within the bounds of my inventive concept.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The cornbination'of a plate'having an upwardly and outwardly slanting wall portion pro- Vided with a laterally extending flange portion, a support element adapted to extend inwardly of said plate, said plate flange portion having an anochor-receiving slot, and a lug anchor carried by said support and engageable in said slot, said plate flange portion and support element having juxtaposed contacting portions whereby said flange portion normally supports said support element substantially in plane with said flange portion.

2; The combination of a plate having an upwardly and outwardly slanting wall portion provided with a laterally extending flange portion,

a support element adapted to extend inwardly of said plate, said plate flange portion having an rancher-receiving slot, and a lug anchor carried by said support engageable in said slot, said plate .flange portion and support element having juxtaposed-contacting portions whereby said flange portion normally supports said support element substantially in plane with said flange portion, saidsupport element having a seating opening for at least'apart of the lower portion of a cup or the like, and-said upwardly and outwardly slantingwall portion being substantially aligned-below a portion of said support opening.

WALTER WEIDLER.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofJthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,614,338 Awoki Jan. 11, 1927 421,264 Gibbons Feb. 11, 1890 163,355 Boteler May 18, 1875 2,042,801 Pittman June 2, 1936 1,848,066 Shepard et a1 Mar. 1, 1932 Re. 13,825 .Blackwell 'Nov. 17, 1914 1,258,792 Lorimer Mar. 12,1918 1,151,923 Blackwell 'Aug. 31, 1915 2,117,266 Adams May 17, 1938 1,863,585 "Walker June 21, 1932 503,508 Walter vAug. 15, 1893 1,926,481 .Fox Sept 12, 1933 1,349,099 "Redpa'th Aug. 10, 1920 2,003,895 Martin June 4, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,835 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1909 361,975 Great "Britain Nov. 30, 1931 

